Research Operations Lead

Corteva Agrisciences has an exciting opportunity for a Research Operations Lead based in Edmonton, Alberta.

Who are we, and what do we do?

Corteva Agriscience creates the world's most recognized and premium agricultural solutions to address the greatest challenges in agriculture. With a focus on technology, Corteva Agriscience creates seed and crop protection products that increase productivity and profit for farmers while reducing risks to their business. Every day our digital tools deliver insights our global partners need to thrive now and into the future.

This role coordinates the leadership of day-to-day management at the Research Center. Serves as the liaison between all process leads at the center level and serves as the overall key contact for the center. Ensures safe, effective, and efficient management of Research Center processes at the local level.

Plans for Research resources (personnel, machinery, equipment, tools, and facilities) needed to produce high-quality data, on-time field operations, and meet winter research seed production and product advancement schedules.

What You’ll Do:

• Operational:
  • Manage and be accountable for the daily center operations, ensuring on-time completions to meet research and business needs.
  • Plan, organize, and direct research operations to ensure the most effective use of assets while meeting research/business objectives; may include, but not limited to the management of: personnel, equipment, facility, and land use.
  • Manage research operations through subordinate staff that have full accountabilities for their respective area(s).
  • Coordinate the research center leadership team meetings by developing agendas, schedules, and ensuring appropriate follow-ups.
  • Effective management of land cooperators and off-site storage.
  • Ensure regulatory compliance (safety, Transport Canada, wage/hour laws, CFIA, etc.).
  • Hold regular team meetings to provide short and long-term task direction.
  • Meet with employees individually to stay abreast of business issues, workload levels, and employee concerns.
  • Participate in field & greenhouse activities as determined by specific location needs.
• Tactical Planning (3-12 months):
  • Work with research center leadership team to proactively plan future needs.
  • Participate in the labor planning for all regular, temporary, and seasonal research staff.
  • Review operations and fixed projections and implement actions to stay within budget.
  • Provide feedback to leadership regarding the center’s operating and capital budgets.
  • Implement productivity practices at the center and ensure these practices are sustained.
  • Monitor and manage capacity constraints, equipment problems, labor scheduling, etc.
  • Identify and resolve problems with help as needed from the local center leadership team and management (Research Directors, Evaluation Zone Leads, etc.).
• Teamwork and Employee Development:
  • Coach, support, and develop employees on their team in a manner that fosters effective collaboration and teamwork, demonstrating and modeling the Core Values.
  • Establish and support individual and team performance goals that are attainable and aligned with business strategy.
  • Hold employees accountable for achieving performance results and demonstrating work behaviors that promote collaboration and teamwork in an effective manner while demonstrating and modeling Core Values.
  • Recognize and value employees through ongoing recognition.
  • Strongly encourage employee feedback.
• Promote a Culture that Demonstrates Core Values While Generating High Quality Results:
  • Promote health, safety, and environmentally-friendly practices.
  • Ensure SHE programs are implemented and fully executed.
  • Ensure all employees at the center are engaged in Safety.
  • Model and enforce the Life-Saving Rules.
  • Foster a positive Safety Culture on and off the job.
  • Ensure RMS and Management Review is in place and effective.
  • Provide oversight of and monitor quality levels through research processes and testing.
• Scientific:
  • Work in conjunction with Research Scientist(s) and Evaluation Zone Lead(s) to establish project goals consistent with business unit goals which reflect internal and external customer needs.
  • Provide management, scientific leadership, and creativity when initiating, designing, and executing research within/across projects.
  • Remain current on new technology by participating in professional meetings, career development activities, and by encouraging others to bring information into research activities.
  • May be involved with scientific studies to support breeding programs or departments per the employee's interest and skill set (molecular breeding involvement, product advancement, regulated testing, disease-related work, etc.).
  • Monitor research progress and meet with participating researchers to identify problems and opportunities impacting the business unit.
  • Communicate with research leadership, business unit contacts, and/or external collaborators on the progress of product opportunities and make recommendations regarding product testing and evaluation process.
  • Opportunities to participate in product selection, advancements, assignment of rankings, etc. This may include preparing and analyzing data, keeping records, or otherwise facilitating advancement meetings.
  • May serve on teams appropriate to cross-project research initiatives.
  • May contribute to scientific publications, conferences, and patent applications.
  • May plan and conduct comprehensive research programs which further the development of value-added products or support associated research projects.

What Skills You Need:

• Master's Degree or Bachelor’s Degree with equivalent experience in an Agriculture-related field.
• 5 -7 years experience in Research operations.
• Supervisory or leadership experience is critical.
• Physical ability to lift 30lbs, ability to work outside in all kinds of weather, ability to stand/sit for extended periods, ability to travel overnight, sometimes for an extended period.
• Primarily in a Research Center setting with regular interaction taking place in high traffic & activity plant/warehouse areas, plus frequent visits to field locations.
• High workload with long hours and weekend work during seasonal peaks. Occasional travel within North America.
• Requires ability to look several months forward to anticipate labor needs, resource needs, space requirements, etc.

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Research operations knowledge combined with prior management skills and the ability to supervise/handle multiple tasks at one time is critical.
• Need leadership capabilities to motivate others, initiate projects, make decisions, and effectively solve problems.
• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills are required for fostering teamwork, enhancing a good working environment, and effectively developing strong working relationships with a diverse group of people.

Relocation assistance not offered for this position.
VISA Sponsorship is not available for this position.

This position is required to work onsite 5 days a week.